I still recall the ’90s vividly, when April Boy Regino was a staple on noontime variety shows. While not everyone was drawn to his music, there was no denying his songs touched millions.
Some critics may have dismissed his music as tacky or too much of a novelty, but April Boy had a way of speaking to people’s hearts. His lyrics were simple yet resonated on many levels. They offered something refreshingly unpretentious in a time when relatable tunes mattered most.
Songs like “Paano ang Puso Ko,” “Umiiyak ang Puso Ko’t Sumisigaw,” and “Di Ko Kayang Tanggapin,” as well as the upbeat “Ye Ye Vonnel,” might sound “baduy” to some, but they were the soundtrack of a generation.
Kids of the ’90s would hum his tunes, and almost everyone tried his signature “X” pose with arms crossed in the air, particularly during the chorus of “Hindi Ko Kayang Tanggapin.” It wasn’t a shock that he managed to sell over 300,000 copies of his albums between 1995 and 2000—a considerable feat at the time.
Though he’s perhaps less well-known among today’s younger music fans, some believe that April Boy’s music and the story behind his songs deserve another look. The biopic IDOL (The April Boy Regino Story) offers exactly that. It provides audiences with a glimpse into his life and legacy.
At a special screening, a viewer asked, “Who’s the target audience for IDOL?” noting that today’s popular artists include SB19, BINI, and Arthur Nery. April Boy, after all, is from a different era.
Premiere WaterPlus Productions’ Executive Producer Marynette Gamboa had a ready answer: “We’ve always had in mind the fans of Idol April Boy Regino—or whoever remains of them.”
Gamboa acknowledged that these loyal fans might not be as familiar with today’s music trends but said they would recognize April Boy’s songs and story.
Gamboa also noted that April Boy’s fans have grown older and are more likely to buy cinema tickets now. But she’s hopeful the film might pique younger audiences’ curiosity. Just as old hits like “Kiss Me, Kiss Me” by Efren Montes and “Maybe This Time” by Michael Murphy found a new life through modern remakes, April Boy’s gold and platinum hits might resonate again with audiences of all ages.
“There’s something timeless about April Boy’s kindness and loyalty to his family,” Gamboa added. “Love and family never go out of style. The movie offers a chance to remember an era of Pinoy music defined by lyrics that came straight from the heart.”
Fans who followed April Boy’s career know the struggles he faced in his later years. He dealt with prostate cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, which eventually led to blindness. His health challenges nearly silenced him, and he was away from the spotlight for years. Yet he endured, leaning on his faith and family through it all. IDOL sheds light on how he managed these personal battles and, against the odds, returned to music.
IDOL (The April Boy Regino Story), written and directed by Efren Reyes, Jr., opens in cinemas across the Philippines on Nov. 27. Produced by Premiere WaterPlus Productions with Gamboa as Executive Producer, the film stars showbiz newbie John Arcenas as April Boy Regino and Kate Yalung as his wife, Madelyn De Leon-Regino.
